Absolutely.
Ted Cruz, Matt Shea, Mike Pence, James Inhofe, Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, John Thune, Louie Gohmert...all of these people (and many more) subscribe to "dominion theology", the extremist far Right branch of fundamentalist Christianity that feels the destruction of government, the social contract and civic duty is part of God’s plan to put a theocracy in place.
These are not the Ayn Rand Objectivist/Libertarian types who feel that government simply has no place outside of the military, these are committed demagogues who are committed to an eternal fight to install pure theocracy as the ultimate form of government.
Dominionism is one hundred percent incompatible with any form of secular constitutional republican government, and diametrically opposed to any form of democracy which functions within such a republican constitutional framework.
By the way, have you ever heard of Matt Shea's
"Biblical Basis for War" document?
One of my favorite passages:
c. Make an offer of Peace before declaring war.
i. Not a negotiation or compromise of righteousness.
ii. Must surrender on terms of justice and righteousness:
1. Stop all abortions;
2. No same-sex marriage;
3. No
idolatry or occultism;
4. No
communism; and
5. Must obey
Biblical law.
iii. If they yield – must pay share of work or taxes.
iv. If they do not yield – kill all males.
Interestingly, since the Bible is a work of fiction, and since literally THOUSANDS of different versions are in circulation, each with their own translations and interpretations, it obviously
falls to Matt Shea and or his duly appointed fellow fundamentalists to be the arbiters of what
"biblical law" is precisely, therefore these appointed fundies ARE the LAW, and law issues
as they SPEAK IT FROM THEIR MOUTHS.
But that's how it works in a theocracy.
Idolatry and communism...hmmmm...I guess it's like cable TV and internet, they're bundled.
And of course, as usual,
THEY are the ones who decide what idolatry and communism are...typically it's anything they don't agree with.
I "get" that they refuse to allow gay marriage and that abortion under any circumstances is murder to them.
This is not surprising.
Of course, the Bible lists some 17 different types of marriage, including marrying a slave, marrying a woman AND taking a concubine, forced marriage of a dead soldier's bride to a brother, polygamy, etc....I guess that will all get worked out by the top theocrats.
But the last one
(iv. If they do not yield – kill all males.) is why I, a liberal, feel very comfortable with the Second Amendment, because I view any politician who lays out a document that calls for the summary execution of all males who "will not yield" as an immediate and direct threat to safety and security for myself, my family and my loved ones.
And when someone is arrogant enough and stupid enough to telegraph such a thing in advance, I consider it a warning and I heed warnings from people in power.
It is interesting to note that Matt Shea visited armed militants during their armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon in 2016.
I do not agree with Matt Shea's plan for theocracy, I will not yield.
And therefore, Matt Shea has given ample justification for an equal response.
